The Monster and the Maiden: Ch. 06, Part I
November 7th, 2008
She forced herself to walk through the gate and latched it behind her, which she thought must reengage the wards, then ran up the cobblestone path and porch stairs to the front door. Holding her breath she grasped the doorknob and twisted.
As the door creaked open, she exhaled in relief. She had been worried Edmond would lock his door but apparently he believed the wards provided enough security that he didn't bother with that extra precaution. Lucky for her. She could have picked the lock—a skill that her ex-mercenary dad had taught her when she was younger, much to her mom's annoyance—but it would have eaten into the time that she had allotted herself to be here.
The lights blazed throughout the house (she guessed Edmond wasn't an environmentalist) and she knew she would be completely visible to anyone on the street as long as she remained in the parlor. One quick scan of the room let her see that it had not changed in the few months since she'd last been inside so she knew there was nothing she wanted to investigate here.
Stretching out with her senses, she could feel accumulations of magical energy both above and below her. After a quick peek into the kitchen, she headed toward the hall at the back of the house.
Emily tilted her head and considered where she should go first—up the wrought iron stairs or down the wooden ladder at the end of the hall. It was a bit difficult to narrow her focus enough to tell where the greatest concentration of magic was coming from, but she decided to go with the logical choice—many people hid secrets in the basement.
She walked over to the head of the ladder and crouched, looking down into the dark hole. It seemed that Edmond's flagrant use of electricity didn't extend to the basement. At least she had a penlight in her pocket, but there was most likely a light switch somewhere around the foot of the ladder anyway.
As soon as she stepped off the bottom rung of the ladder, candles flared around the room with a soft whoosh. She blinked her eyes, momentarily blinded, although it had nothing to do with the dim candlelight that suffused the room. The magical energy down here was too much and she had to seal up the wall in her mind, an imaginary construct she'd developed to help her control her talent of sensitivity so that she wouldn't be overwhelmed by experiences such as this.
34 Responses to “The Monster and the Maiden: Ch. 06, Part I”
November 7th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Fantastic π
November 8th, 2008 at 8:26 am
November 8th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I can't wait to see what Emily finds back there because I don't think we've seen what's behind that bookshelf have we? Also those outtakes are nice. I especially love the last one.
November 8th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
This chapter has made me love Emily even more and I agree with E. Black, the last outtake shot is just pure bliss.
November 8th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
November 8th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Omg! These stories are so interesting! Please make more! When will the next one be out?
November 8th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
November 8th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
:up: Ah! How could you leave us hanging like that!
I am thoroughly enjoying this story Kara. I really like the lighting you use. I tried to use the radiance mod from MTS but it made everything too dark but I see it works beautifully for you!
November 8th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Simply Wonderful…I can't wait to see what happens next.
November 9th, 2008 at 8:29 am
November 9th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Beautiful outtakes, beautiful writing. And HAHA Emily broke in, lol!
Now where is her husband??? lol! I was chuckling the whole way through especially after her diary entry. Although I am a bit worried that she doesnt feel for Edmond, *swoon* as he does her. 80)
On a seperate note, do you mind if I link to your story on my blog page?
November 10th, 2008 at 8:20 am
November 10th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Great writing Kara. One of your best, I think. And a nice cliffhanger. I kept wondering when (hello!) a certain somebody would arrive home.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:32 am
November 11th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Loved the outtakes! haha those were just wonderful.
Now to Miss Emily's curiosity…no matter how smitten Edmond is with her, breaking in is not something I think he will tolerate much. That and the fact that someone has figured out what is going on with his security system. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't consider moving…
I loved how Emily set up her surveillance. She must have shown incredible restraint not to drive herself mad wondering what he did when he was gone. She may say she wants to get to the bottom of the magic that is going on at his place but methinks she doth protest too much! Come on, she can't be immune to his charms…
Wonderful update as always! I am in such awe at your work, images and writing.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:00 am
You story is wonderful! And your pictures are so atmospheric. Text are good too, but english isn't my native language and I can't understand it well. Anyway, I love read to your story. :XO:
November 12th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Ack- I don't remember getting an email for this one so I'm glad I checked your blog. π
This was certainly an intriguing chapter- I like how Emily's personality from youth translated to her as an adult. She seemed like a troublemaker then and she still is now (in a good way of course). I'll tell you again and again till my face turns blue- your sets are so phenomenal. They really do carry you into another world altogether.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:24 am
November 14th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Hey Kara..I was wondering will Emily's brothers make an appearance? I would love to see them all grown up. :XO:
November 14th, 2008 at 7:19 am
November 15th, 2008 at 3:31 am
Your descriptions are wonderful and amazing as always. :XO: I'm amazed at how you are able to describe so much yet have it sound interesting and worth reading. If I wrote so much of descriptions, I'm sure to have put my readers to sleep already. ::-*: Heh.
I'm very curious as to what's hidden behind the shelves, but I'll find out soon enough. There is one thing I'm curious of… Emily's not really engaged, is she? I just have this feeling in the pit of my stomach that's saying she is not engaged. She lied didn't she?! π‘ So much for my Rafe x Edmond…!
November 15th, 2008 at 6:18 am
Hi, i've been lurking around for sometimes. Hmm, i just had to say something this time. Emily is just stubborn!! Well, i'll be upset too if anyone try to doubt or make me doubt my memories. Edward is gorgeous in his own brooding demented way!
November 15th, 2008 at 8:50 am
November 16th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
First I have to say that I adore "curiousity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back." and why don't they return? maybe satisfaction is on the cat's terms…
I loved the shot and the scene where Emily is researching the camera footage. The changes in her expression, the difference in the lighting and even the hair..just wonderful!
And the entire sequence…she is so stubborn and so intent and so determined to do it on her own. Edmond and the mysteries surrounding him, and Edmond the person, and whether the two can be separated.
I love where you're taking this. slowly. on little cat feet.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:31 am
November 19th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Oooh I love it. The way you get your characters' expressions to be *just* right, it's fantastic…I especially love the picture of Emily looking at surveilance photos, it's so realistic!
I can't wait for the next bit- I sense crazy amounts of drama!
(I'm from GOS by the way)
November 19th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
November 26th, 2008 at 5:05 am
Dear Kara,
I hope you find success in releasing the next chapter, we're really missing Edmond and Emily π₯ *Where's the Hagen Daas?*
November 26th, 2008 at 8:45 am
November 30th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Your stories are fantastic, especially their atmosphere. I can't wait for the next installment!
December 1st, 2008 at 6:41 am
Oh gosh, this is one of the best stories I've ever read!
Mind if I ask what font you used for the Diary?
December 1st, 2008 at 11:28 am
December 10th, 2008 at 4:14 am
The quality of the images is breathtaking, each shot is just perfect. π―
..and IΓ’β¬β’m glad you keep on posting outtakes from the header because they are a real treat for the eyes! :XO:
I know this has been said before, but I canΓ’β¬β’t wait for the next chapter.. π³ since, of course, I love the plot too! :halo:
December 10th, 2008 at 9:29 am